Vicky Graff Photo
For the first time since 2017, Kentucky gymnastics will host its annual Excite Night—presented by White, Greer, and Maggard Orthodontics– inside Historic Memorial Coliseum as the No. 7 Cats (3-2, 1-1 SEC) welcome No. 11 Auburn (8-1, 1-0) tonight. The meet begins at 7 p.m.
This will mark Excite Night’s return to Historic Memorial Coliseum after a successful six year run at Rupp Arena from 2018-2024 (there was no Excite Night in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The last time that Kentucky gymnastics’ premier meet was in HMC, the Cats also squared off against Auburn, knocking off the Tigers 197.100-195.800.
Kentucky has claimed victory at eight straight Excite Nights dating back to its last defeat in 2015.
The Wildcats enter Excite Night ranked No. 7 in the NCAA with an average team score of 196.867. The Wildcats rank in the top 10 on three apparatus, slotting in at fifth on vault (49.300), 12th on uneven bars (49.125), ninth on balance (49.158), and sixth on floor exercise (49.283).
UK enters tonight’s contest with Auburn after its first conference loss of the season, falling at No. 11 Missouri 196.800-197.200. In the defeat, the Wildcats posted a season-high road score, a season-high floor score (49.350), and saw fifth-year Skylar Killough Wilhelm claim a pair of event titles—vault (9.900) and all-around (39.475)—to bring her season total to three.
In Kentucky’s last outing inside Historic Memorial Coliseum, the Cats made their long-awaited return to the beloved venue by posting a season-high score of 197.300 in an upset win over No. 3 Alabama.
Fifth-year Isabella Magnelli—a four time All-American—continues to lead the way for Kentucky, currently ranking in the top ten in the country on two events. The Suffern, N.Y. native sits at No. 4 on both vault (9.908) and balance beam (9.917) and also contributes in the Kentucky floor lineup.
No. 11 Auburn enters Excite Night with a 8-1 (1-0 SEC) record, coming into Lexington on the heels of a win over No. 9 Oregon State with a season-high score of 197.025. The Tigers won their SEC opener two weeks ago, taking down No. 17 Arkansas at home. Auburn shines on beam, ranking sixth in the NCAA on the apparatus with an average score of 49.256. The Tigers rank outside the top ten on the other three events, coming into Friday 11th on bars (49.138), 14th on floor (49.163), and 17th on vault (49.056).
Freshman Katelyn Jong ranks 15th in the NCAA in the all-around with a 39.412 average, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors after a career-high 39.500 against Oregon State last Friday with scores of 9.9+ on three events. Marissa Neal, another freshman, also enters the meet with SEC laurels, earning the title of SEC Specialist of the Week after a 9.975 on beam against OSU.
Doors to Historic Memorial Coliseum will open at 6 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to plan ahead for parking and arrive early for introductions, set to begin at 6:48 p.m. ET. Alaina Kwan—UK Gymnastics alumna ’20 and current morning reporter for Arizona’s Family – 3TV and CBS 5—in Phoenix—will be the guest host for the night.
